THE Logan Botanic Garden team is working tirelessly to clear the damage caused by Storm Eowyn ahead of the site’s reopening on March 1.
The storm brought 89 mph winds to the gardens, leaving uprooted trees and fallen powerlines.
Logan Botanic Garden also lost more than 70 specimens in the damage, many holding special historical significance. Garden curator Richard Baines says some of them originated as far as Australia: “The Eucalypts were particularly fine specimens, having been collected in Australia in 1996 by Logan’s ex-curator Barry Unwin. Known for its glaucous blue, highly aromatic foliage these two specimens will be a big loss as they were a real feature in the shrub bed.”
Other losses include a Clethra arborea, commonly known as the Lily-of-the-valley tree, which was snapped at its base by the intense winds. Standing at nearly two metres, this rare specimen is rarely seen in Scottish gardens.
Despite the damage, Logan has retained the majority of its collection, thanks to proactive measures such as regularly replacing hedges that act as windbreakers. Notably, the UK’s largest prickly myrtle (Rhaphithamnus spinosus) remains standing, requiring only minor remedial work.
Meanwhile, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s Storm Damage Appeal, which launched on 27 January, has raised over £85,000. The funds will support the restoration of living collections and infrastructure, helping the gardens build resilience against climate change.
Photo: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
